Table



A r l 16, 1946. A G, BUREAU TABLE Filed Jan. 31, 1944 INVENTOR ie/ lle 425107196210 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1946 TABLE Achille G. Bureau, meaning, N1 Y. I Application January 31, 1944,:Se1'ial N0. 520,430 1 Claim. (01. 11 -39);

The present invention relates to a table designed to be used at different levels, whereby it is adapted for different types of service.

The conventional so-called cofiee table is customarily built with shortlegs so that it stands but a short distance from the floor and it has utility, primarily in front of another piece of fur niture, such as a sofa or the like. On the other hand, a bridge table is designed with legs that fold under the table top and when so folded the table is flat and. may be stored in a minimum of space. The construction of the two types of table is radically different in principle and they are not intended to be used interchangeably.

It is broadly an object of the invention to provide a table construction which permits the table to be used interchangeably for distinctive typesof service. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of a table that by the manipulation of simple means may be easily converted from one type of use to that of another by effecting a change in the height of the table top from the floor.

Another object is the provision of a table construction designed to serve a double use merely by the manipulation of the foldable legs thereof, yet have an artistic and solid appearance for each type of service.

Other objects of the invention will manifest themselves as th description proceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective of my invention illus trated as being embodied in a coffee table but showing in dotted lines the legs folded downwardly, thus raising the table top to a different elevation;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the manner in which the legs may be folded and held in place;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing how the legs may be extended or unfolded and locked into position; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the legs, partly in section, looking at Fig. 3 from the right or inside of the leg, which illustrates the hinge construction and locking means for holding the legs erect when in an extended position.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows a table embodying my construction, when the legs are folded under. More particularly, each of the legs are comprised of two sections designated by the reference characters 2 and 3. The several sections 2 are fixedly secured underneath a top 4, preferably at the corners if the tions 3 are attached, by means of hinges 5, to the lower endsof the sections 2; "The wings or faces of the hinges 5 are mounted so as to be flush with the surfaces of the'leg sections 2 and 3, so that a short distance; thus'providingscaster members for the'lower end of the leg sections 2. This arrangement isa simple expedient for maintaining the folded leg ends a Slight distance from the oor; and also afford clearance to the 'backsof the hinges 5.

The adjoining ends of the several leg sections 3 are also provided with longitudinal recesses 8, alignable with and corresponding to the recesses 6, so that when the section 3 are unfolded, i. e.,

' opened downwardly, the bolts 1 are free to slide up and down as a keeper in the recesses 6 and 8. The depth of the recesses 8 is sufficient to permit a substantial portion of the bolts 1 to enter the same, and thus provide a locking arrangement for solidly holding the several pairs of sections 2 and 3 end to end when locked into position by the latch bolts 1.

Each of the latch bolts L'near their upper ends, are provided with a cross pin 9 terminating in a knob 10 for ease of operation, The cross pins 9 are adapted to fit into slots H, which communicate at right angle, with the recesses 6.

The recesses 6 are each provided with a vertical slot 12 that connects with the slots ll so that the latch slide bolts 1 may be moved up and down, i. e., into and out of latching position.

By this arrangement the cross pins 9 may be depressedin the slots I I with the knobs l0 slightly projecting therefrom, so that when it is desired to withdraw the cross pins 9 from the slots II, the knobs to are easily grasped with the fingers and the slide bolts 1 rotated about this longitudinal axis until the cross pins 9 register with the slots l2 and the slide bolts 1 then moved downwardly to engage the aligned recesses 8.

To accommodate the knob II], when the sections 3 are in a folded position, a hole I5 is bored in the opposing surface of the sections 3 so that the adjacent surfaces of the sections 2 and 3 may be brought into engagement with one another,

top has a square 0r rectangular shape. The sec- (See Fig. 2.)

Bullet spring catches I 3, of the well-known conventional construction, having a hollow metal shank in which is mounted a spring actuated bullet, are fitted into holes drilled underneath the table top (see Fig. 2) in operative position with the end of the leg section 3. The latter has a depression 'into which the bullet seats itself when the section 3 is folded up, thus holding said section 3 in a folded vertical position when the table is being used at its lower level, i. .e., as a coffee table. j V f I From the foregoing, the adaptation of the table from one type of service to another is quite sim-' ple. For example, considering that the normal use of the table is as a coffee table, with the leg sections 3 folded up and held in position by the bullet catches l3, all that is necessary to raise the top to a higher elevation is to grasp the several sections 3 and pull outwardly anddownwardly. This movement overcomes the tension on the several bullet catches l3 and by means of the hinges 5 the sections 3 unfold until the adjacent ends of the sections 2 and 3 abut. By manipulating the knobs I0 on the cross pins 9, the bolts 1 may he slid downwardly until the bolts 1 seat themselves in the bottom of the recesses 8, thus securely locking the ends of several sections 2 and 3 in place. With the legs I thus extended the table top is at a different height from the floor and may conveniently be used as a bridge table or for any other desired use, such as serving tea or the like.

Modifications in the construction of my table will suggest themselves to'those skilled in the art.

For example, the table top may be round instead of square or rectangular'in shape. Instead of having 1egs foldable per se, sets of legs of different length may be suitably attached to the table top so as to fold against the bottom thereof, and when a given table height is desired, the legs afiording that height may be pulled down and the legs of difierent length left folded under the top. Such a modification is contemplated by my invention because it relates broadly to the provision of a table adaptable to give different types of service, which is accomplished by regulating the height of the table top from the floor. It is desired to cover all such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a table construction, a top having a pluralty of sectional legs, each leg comprising an upper and a lower section hinged at their adjoining extremities and arranged to fold along one side of each other, said leg sections being of substantially the same length, the upper section being fixedly secured to the table top and the lower section being releasably locked thereunder when the lower section is folded alongside of the upper section, a mechanism for locking end to end the paired sections forming each leg, said mechanism comprising a slide bolt reciprocatively mounted in a longitudinal recess formed in the lower end of the upper section, a corresponding recess formed in the adjoining end of the lower section, said recesses being in vertical alignment when the leg sections are unfolded and by manipulation of the slide bolt the paired sections are locked end to end, the depth of the recess housing the slide bolt being slightly less than the length of the slide bolt, whereby the end of the bolt normally projects beyond the end of the upperosection, thus providing a caster member for the several folded legs.-

ACHILLE G. BUREAU. 

